Title: A Thousand Splendid Suns

Author: Khaled Hosseini

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Riverhead

Format: Paperback

Pages: 372

Rating: 5/5 stars

*Warning: Mature Content. Parents please be advised.*

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a breathtaking story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan’s last thirty years—from the Soviet invasion to the reign of the Taliban to post-Taliban rebuilding—that puts the violence, fear, hope, and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, where personal lives—the struggle to survive, raise a family, find happiness—are inextricable from the history playing out around them.

Propelled by the same storytelling instinct that made The Kite Runner a beloved classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once a remarkable chronicle of three decades of Afghan history and a deeply moving account of family and friendship. It is a striking, heart-wrenching novel of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love—a stunning accomplishment.

Review:

This book broke my heart into an million pieces and then picked them up right at the end. Hosseini not only has a way with words, but he has the ability to transport you into his stories and become connected to the characters in ways that are truly unbelievable!

The book focuses on two women in Afghanistan during the times of the Soviet invasion and the Taliban. Mariam comes from a poor village and is forced to marry a horrible man! Like so horrible I wanted to slap him! The abuse Mariam experiences is heart wrenching and she has no idea how to get out of her situation.

Then there is Laila, who grows up across the street from Mariam and is given a liberal upbringing for a woman in Afghanistan, something that makes it hard for Laila to understand when the Taliban impose their rule over women. Laila falls in love with her childhood best friend, and their romance is so cute! Ah I was gushing over their love for each other! But of course the war tears them apart and they have to find a way back to each other!

The connection between Mariam and Laila is also such a strong bond between two struggling women, and they provide such strength to each other!

If you are going to read any book this year, read this one. It’s amazing.

Happy reading!